Extension-ladder hook



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

LPERGUSONQ EXTENSION LAfiDER HOOK. I Patented Jan. 7, 1896.

Wane/Mao 27m Z0507 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. FERGUSON. EXTENSION LADDER HOOK.

Patented Jan. '7, 1896.

w ANDREW B G lMlANL PKUTUUTMLWISMINGTUI. DC.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LYMAN FERGUSON, OF ITHACA, NEWV YORK.

EXTENSION-LADDER HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,636, dated January 7, 1896.

Applicati n filed September 30,1895. Serial No. 564,124. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LYMAN FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ithaca, in the county of Tompkins and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension-Ladder Hooks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

My invention relates to ladders, and more particularly to that class known as shooting ladders.

The object of the invention is to provide a ladder of this character one section of which may be shot upward and automatically locked in its elevated position to the lower section and which may be readily unlocked from the lower section to allow it to be lowcred.

A further object is to provide a ladder which shall be simple and strong of construction, durable in use and comparatively inex pensive of production.

IVith these objects in view the invention consists of certain features of construction and combination of parts, which shall be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ladder, showing one section elevated and locked to the other section. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the upper section disengaged and in the act of being lowered. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the side bars of the ladder, showing the manner in which the hook-bar is pivoted thereto. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the hook-bar. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the releasingdog. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the guide-braces.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the lower section of the ladder, and 2 the sliding section, the side bars of which are adapted to slide between the side bars of the lower section and are held therebetween by guide-braces 3, which are secured respectively to the upper and lower ends of the lower section and the sliding section of the ladder and are protion is well known in the art and ordinarily consists of a Windlass and rope, it is not thought necessary in the present case to either describe or illustrate the means by which the sliding section is elevated, as the means in themselves form no part of the present invention.

At the lower end of one of the side bars of the sliding section of the ladder is formed a socket 5 for a coil-spring 6, and a slight distance above this socket is formed a similar socket 7 for a coil-spring 8, the energy of which is exerted in a direction opposite to that of the coil-spring 6. Between these springs an aperture 9 is formed.

10 denotes two plates, which are formed with transverse elongated slots 11 at their ends coincident with the spring-sockets and with apertures 12 coincident with the aperture aforesaid.

13 denotes a hook-bar, which is provided at its upper end with a hook let and with an inclined or rounded head 15. Intermediate its ends the hook-bar is formed with a recess 16 in its side, in which recess is pivoted a releasing-dog 17 by a. stud 18, projecting inward from said recess. The upper end of this dog projects upward over the end of the hook aforesaid, while its lower end is provided with a weight 19, which serves to normally hold the upper end of the dog against the end of said hook.

2O denotes an aperture formed in the hookbar and through which passes a bolt 21, having an enlarged portion 22, which is embraced by the walls of said aperture. The outer end of said bolt projects through the apertures of the plates and the side bar of the sliding section of the ladder, and a key 2-3 serves to hold the bolt in position.

24 denotes studs which project outward from the sides of the hook-bar and through the slots in the plate at opposite sides of the aperture therein and engage the ends of the coil-spring, the energy of which is exerted to force the hooked end of the sliding section into engagement with the rungs ofv the lower section of the ladder.

In operation, when the sliding section is elevated it will be noticed that the hook will be guided past the rungs of the lower section by the rounded or inclined head at the end of the hook-bar, and when the sliding section hasbeen raised to the desired height the hook will be raised to engage the rung of the lower section by means of the spring which forces the hook inward. Now when it is desired to lower the sliding section it is first raised a few inches, so as to allow the upper end of the releasing-dog to clasp the rung of the lower section with which the hook is engaged. This having been done and the upper end of the dog having swung against the end of the hook, it will be seen that the hook will not be allowed to engage the rungs as the sliding section is lowered, as the dog closes the hooked end and acts as a guide.

From the foreging description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation of my improved ladder will be readily apparent.

The parts constructed as above described are strong and durable and the liability of damage or breakage of these parts is reduced to a minimum, while the simplicity of construction enables the parts to be placed upon the market at a greatly reduced cost.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent, is-

In a shooting ladder, the combination with a lower section and a slidable section connected together, one of the side bars of the sliding section being provided with sockets and with an aperture between said sockets, plates secured to the end of said bar having holes coincident with said apertures and provided with slots, which register with said sockets, springs within said sockets and ar ranged to exert their energy in opposite directions, a hook bar having an aperture intermediate its ends, a bolt passed through said aperture and through the apertures of the plates and side bar, studs projecting outwardly from the said hook bar into the sockets and engaging the springs, an inclined or rounded head at the upper end of the hook bar and a releasing dog pivoted to the side of the hook bar and having its upper end projecting outward beyond the hook of the bar and provided at its lower end with a weight to normally hold the upper end of the dog into engagement with the hook, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LYMAN FERGUSON. lVitnesses: I EMMA M. GILLETT.

EENJ. G. (Down 

